Mountaineer Loses Appeal

June 13, 1986|United Press International

HELENA, Mont. -- Dan Nichols, convicted with his father of kidnapping an Olympic athlete in 1984 with hopes of making her his ``mountain bride,`` lost his appeal of his prison sentence to the Montana Supreme Court Thursday.

Nichols, 20, and his father, Don Nichols, 54, abducted biathlete Kari Swenson of Bozeman on July 15, 1984, while she was jogging on a mountain trail, with the intention of taking her to the mountains to live with them.

The older Nichols was convicted of murder for shooting Al Goldstein, one of Swenson`s would-be rescuers.

Swenson was wounded during the unsuccesful rescue attempt but recovered and testified about her ordeal.

Attorney Steven Ungar appealed the younger Nichols` 20 1/2-year prison sentence imposed by District Judge Frank Davis. Among other things, Ungar argued that Davis was wrong in designating the younger Nichols a ``dangerous offender,`` thus denying him eligibility for parole until he has served one- half of his sentence.

The judge relied on the defendant`s past record of juvenile convictions for burglary and drug abuse in declaring him a dangerous offender, Ungar argued.